Drunk Driving Accidents

Cappetta Law Offices is dedicated to protecting the rights of victims harmed in drunk-driving accidents and other car accidents caused by negligence. I handle all personal injury matters on a contingent fee basis. That means you will never be charged for legal services unless I win monetary damages for you. I am committed to providing high-quality, affordable representation to clients in Middlesex County and other areas of Massachusetts.

Drunk Driving Endangers Lives Every Day

Drunk driving kills 30 people each day, claiming one life every 48 minutes. Half of all drivers killed in drunk-driving accidents are found to have drugs other than alcohol in their system. FBI statistics reveal that over 1.71 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in 2010 alone. The most serious offenders were drivers between 21 and 25 years of age and one third of all DUI-related accidents were caused by repeat offenders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that adults drove while impaired about 112 million times in 2010, causing 1 in 3 crash-related fatalities. These drivers are also responsible for the deaths of 180 child passengers, half of whom were riding with the impaired driver at the time of the crash.

Impaired Driving

The average person can only metabolize alcohol at the rate of one drink per hour. This means that time is the only cure for sobriety, especially if the person has been pounding drinks. People tend to drink at a faster rate than that required to eliminate the toxin. This causes higher and higher levels of alcohol to accumulate in the blood. Because alcohol must be digested, the speed of absorption affects the rate at which a person becomes drunk. Consequently, intoxication does not depend on a type of drink, but rather the amount of alcohol digested over a period of time. For driving purposes, impairment is defined by blood alcohol content (BAC), which measures the concentration of alcohol present in 100 milliliters of blood.

Effects of BAC Levels on Driving

Even at low BAC levels, the driver is already impaired. Typical effects of intoxication include:

Reduced coordination and response time

Difficulty steering, concentrating on driving

Diminished visual, motor, cognitive function

Loss of control over speed and depth perception

Clouded judgment, ability to process information

Failure to maintain lane position and brake properly

Substantial impairment in vehicle control and judgment

Drivers often fail to discern these effects because intoxication induces a "good feeling" by altering mood, releasing inhibition, and lowering the motorist's general alertness to danger.

Drunk-Driving Is Against the Law

Under Massachusetts DUI laws, the legal limit for drunk-driving is a BAC level of .08 percent for drivers 21 or older. Underage drinkers only need to register a BAC level of .02 percent. The legal limit is also lower--.04 percent--for motorists requiring a commercial driver's license. In addition to criminal penalties, the offender is also liable for monetary damages in a civil suit. By driving drunk, the motorist has clearly breached a legal duty, endangering the lives of others. Negligent drivers are consequently liable for any injuries caused by the accident. This may include compensation for the injured party's medical costs, lost income, and other damages.

Get Compensation for Your Injury

If you were injured in a drunk-driving accident, contact a personal injury lawyer in Massachusetts today. Cappetta Law Offices never charges attorney's fees unless it recovers compensation for you. Our Natick and Framingham offices provide free consultations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will have unlimited access to legal consultations and do not pay a cent in attorney's fees unless we win the case. I am dedicated to helping you obtain the compensation you deserve. Call (508) 969-9505 for a free consultation or contact us online.